U.S. patent application number 11/492597 was filed with the patent office on 2008-02-07 for partitioned game console system.
This patent application is currently assigned to Rambus, Inc.. Invention is credited to Ely K. Tsern, Frederick A. Ware.
Application Number | 20080032794 11/492597 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38819972 |
Filed Date | 2008-02-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080032794 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ware; Frederick A. ; et
al. |
February 7, 2008 |
Partitioned game console system
Abstract
The game console system includes a user interface module and a
graphics processing module that are remotely situated from one
another and solely coupled to one another via one or more
communication links. The graphics processing module is positioned
within a controlled environment chamber that thermally and
acoustically isolates the user interface module from the graphics
processing module. The user interface module includes a controller
and a console coupled to the controller. The console also is
configured to be coupled to a display.
Inventors: |
Ware; Frederick A.; (Los
Altos Hills, CA) ; Tsern; Ely K.; (Los Altos,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MORGAN LEWIS & BOCKIUS LLP/RAMBUS INC.
2 PALO ALTO SQUARE, 3000 EL CAMINO REAL
PALO ALTO
CA
94306
US
|
Assignee: |
Rambus, Inc.
|
Family ID: |
38819972 |
Appl. No.: |
11/492597 |
Filed: |
July 24, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/32 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 2300/538 20130101;
A63F 13/23 20140902; A63F 2300/203 20130101; G06F 1/20 20130101;
A63F 13/00 20130101; A63F 2300/405 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/32 |
International
Class: |
A63F 13/00 20060101
A63F013/00 |
Claims
1. A game console system comprising: a first computing device
configured to: generate game objects in a three-dimensional (3D)
graphical space, transform the game object into two dimensional
(2D) video frames, compresses the 2D video frames into compressed
video frames; and transmit the compressed video frames to a second
computing device; a second computing device configured to: receive
the compressed video frames, decompresses the compressed video
frames to decompressed video frames, and transmit the decompressed
video frames to a display device, wherein the first and second
computing devices are configured to operate in separate thermal
environments.
2. The game console system of claim 1, wherein during use the first
and second computing devices are separated from one another by a
predetermined distance.
3. The game console system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined
distance is between 30 to 100 meters.
4. The game console system of claim 1, wherein the first computing
device comprises a cooling mechanism configured to cool the first
computing device.
5. The game console system of claim 3, wherein the cooling
mechanism forms part of a housing of the first computing
device.
6. The game console system of claim 3, wherein the cooling
mechanism comprises at least one fan.
7. The game console system of claim 3, wherein the cooling
mechanism comprises a refrigeration unit.
8. The game console system of claim 3, wherein the cooling
mechanism comprises a heat pump or a heat exchanger for
transferring heat to an environment exterior to the first computing
device.
9. The game console system of claim 8, wherein the environment
comprises a household hot water system or a heating system.
10. The game console system of claim 3, wherein the cooling
mechanism is configured to dissipate at least 10 KW of heat per
hour.
11. The game console system of claim 1, wherein the first computing
device further comprises a power supply circuit configured to
provide 240V to the first computing device.
12. The game console system of claim 1, wherein first and second
commuting devices are coupled to one another via a unidirectional
communication link configured to transport the compressed video
frames from the first computing device to the second computing
device.
13. The game console system of claim 12, wherein the unidirectional
communication link is configured to transport the compressed video
frames at 0.6 Gb/s or faster.
14. The game console system of claim 1, wherein the second
computing device is configured to receive instructions from a
controller.
15. The game console system of claim 14, further comprising a
communications link between the second computing device and the
first computing device for transmitting the instructions from the
controller to the first computing device at 1 Mb/s or faster.
16. The game console system of claim 14, further comprising a
communications link between the second computing device and the
first computing device for transmitting the instructions from the
controller to the first computing device at 1 Mb/s or faster, and
transmitting feedback signals to the controller at 1 Mb/s or
faster.
17. The game console system of claim 1, further comprising a
communications link between the second computing device and the
first computing device for loading game data to the first computing
device at 50 MB/s or faster.
18. The game console system of claim 1, wherein during use the
first and second computing devices are substantially acoustically
isolated from one another.
19. The game console system of claim 1, wherein during use the
first computing device produces 30 decibels or less of noise at the
second computing device.
20. The game console system of claim 1, wherein during use the
second computing device is configured to transmit uncompressed
video to the display at 6.4 Gb/s or faster.
21. The game console system of claim 1, wherein communication links
between the first and second computing devices are configured to
support real-time game play at a response time of 10 ms or
less.
22. The game console system of claim 1, wherein the compression and
decompression is performed using a compression scheme selected from
a group consisting of: a lossless method, a lossy method,
run-length encoding, variable-length encoding, entropy coding,
motion prediction of pixel blocks, interpolation of pixels or pixel
blocks between frames, transformation of pixel intensity into the
spatial frequency domain, quantization of pixel and spatial
frequency values, and any combination of the aforementioned.
23. A game console system comprising: a first computing device
configured to operate in a first thermal environment, the first
computing device comprising: a data processing module configured to
generate a three-dimensional (3D) game objects; a video processing
module configured to transform the game objects into two
dimensional (2D) video frames; and a video compression module
configured to compress the 2D video frames into compressed video
frames for transmission to a second computing device; a second
computing device configured to operate in a second thermal
environment separate from the first thermal environment, the second
computing device comprising a video decompression module configured
to decompress the compressed video frames to decompressed video
frames.
24. The game console system of claim 23, wherein during use the
first and second computing devices are separated from one another
by a predetermined distance of between 30 to 100 meters.
25. The game console system of claim 23, wherein the first
computing device comprises a cooling mechanism configured to cool
the first computing device, wherein said cooling device is selected
from a group consisting of: at least one fan, a refrigeration unit,
a heat pump, a heat exchanger, and any combination of the
aforementioned.
26. The game console system of claim 23, wherein the cooling
mechanism is configured to dissipate at least 10 KW of heat per
hour.
27. The game console system of claim 23, wherein the first
computing device further comprises a power supply circuit
configured to provide 240V to the first computing device.
28. The game console system of claim 23, wherein first and second
commuting devices are coupled to one another via a unidirectional
communication link configured to transport the compressed video
frames from the first computing device to the second computing
device at 0.6 Gb/s or faster.
29. The game console system of claim 23, wherein the second
computing device is configured to receive instructions from a
controller.
30. The game console system of claim 29, further comprising a
communications link between the second computing device and the
first computing device for transmitting data between the controller
and the first computing device at 1 Mb/s or faster.
31. The game console system of claim 23, further comprising a
communications link between the second computing device and the
first computing device for loading game data to the first computing
device at 50 MB/s or faster.
32. The game console system of claim 23, wherein during use the
first and second computing devices are substantially acoustically
isolated from one another, such that the first computing device
produces 30 decibels or less of noise at the second computing
device.
33. The game console system of claim 23, wherein during use the
second computing device is configured to transmit uncompressed
video to the display at 6.4 Gb/s or faster.
34. The game console system of claim 23, wherein communication
links between the first and second computing devices are configured
to support real-time game play at a response time of 10 ms or
less.
35. A game console system comprising: a first means for computing
configured to operate in a first thermal environment, the first
means for computing comprising: means for generating game objects
in a three-dimensional (3D) graphical space; means for transforming
the game objects into two dimensional (2D) video frames; and means
for compressing the 2D video frames into compressed video frames
for transmission to a second computing device; a second means for
computing configured to operate in a second thermal environment
separate from the first thermal environment, the second means for
computing comprising: means for decompressing the compressed video
frames to decompressed video frames; and means for transmitting the
decompressed video frames to a means for displaying.
36. The game console system of claim 35, wherein during use the
first and second means for computing are separated from one another
by a predetermined distance of between 30 to 100 meters.
37. The game console system of claim 35, wherein the first means
for computing comprises a means for cooling the first means for
computing, wherein said means for cooling is selected from a group
consisting of: at least one fan, a refrigeration unit, a heat pump,
a heat exchanger, and any combination of the aforementioned.
38. The game console system of claim 35, wherein first and second
means for computing are coupled to one another via a means for
communicating the compressed video frames from the first means for
computing to the second means for computing at 0.6 Gb/s or
faster.
39. The game console system of claim 35, wherein the second means
for computing is configured to receive instructions from a means
for controlling.
40. The game console system of claim 39, further comprising a
communications link between the second means for computing and the
first means for computing for transmitting data between the means
for controlling and the first means for computing at 1 Mb/s or
faster.
41. The game console system of claim 35, further comprising a means
for communicating communications between the second means for
computing and the first means for computing for loading game data
to the first means for computing at 50 MB/s or faster.
42. The game console system of claim 35, wherein during use the
first and second means for computing are substantially acoustically
isolated from one another, such that the first means for computing
produces 30 decibels or less of noise at the second means for
computing.
43. The game console system of claim 35, wherein during use the
second means for computing is configured to transmit uncompressed
video to means for displaying at 6.4 Gb/s or faster.
44. The game console system of claim 35, wherein means for
communicating between the first and second means for computing are
configured to support real-time game play at a response time of 10
ms or less.
45. A gaming method, comprising: at a first computing device:
generating game objects in a three-dimensional (3D) graphical
space; transforming the game object into two dimensional (2D) video
frames; compressing the 2D video frames into compressed video
frames; and transmitting the compressed video frames to a second
computing device; at a second computing device: receiving the
compressed video frames from the first computing device;
decompressing the compressed video frames to decompressed video
frames; and transmitting the decompressed video frames to a display
device, wherein the first and second computing devices are
configured to operate in separate thermal environments.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a game console system, and
more particularly to a game console system having a user interface
module that is thermally and/or acoustically isolated from a
graphics processing module.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Today's game console systems provide users with realistic
animation presented in real time. This animation makes use of
graphics processing hardware where sophisticated 3D graphics are
transformed into two-dimensional images that are displayed on
users' displays. This graphics processing hardware utilizes
components with large numbers of switching devices (hundreds of
millions of transistors) operated at very high switching speeds (up
to several billion clock cycles per second), resulting in a large
processing rates (several trillion arithmetic operations per
second). Some of these components generate significant amounts of
heat and acoustic noise. This heat in turn degrades the overall
performance and reliability of the game console systems. As such,
game consoles are typically equipped with heat sinks and/or fans
that direct ambient air flow across the components to cool the
components by convection. However, as processing speeds increase,
these cooling solutions have rapidly become inadequate. In
addition, cooling air flow across the components is often impeded
by other components within the game console; the cooling fans,
themselves, generate heat and add significant noise to the game
playing environment; etc. The heat sinks and/or fans also
significantly impact the overall size of current game consoles.
[0003] To address safety concerns, such game consoles are typically
restricted to predetermined upper surface temperature and noise
limits. For example, the maximum allowable surface temperature of
game console systems is typically 55.degree. C. In addition, such
game consoles are also typically powered via standard electrical
wall outlets. These outlets typically provide 10 A at 120V, another
limiting factor for powering the components and cooling the game
consoles.
[0004] In light of the above, it would be highly desirable to
provide a game system that provides the best possible performance
while addressing the above drawbacks.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] For a better understanding of the disclosure herein,
reference should be made to the following detailed description
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0006] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a game console system;
[0007] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the controlled environment
chamber and graphics processing module shown in FIG. 1;
[0008] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the console shown in FIG. 1;
and
[0009] FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a method of game-play using the
embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3.
[0010] Like reference numerals refer to the same or similar
components throughout the several views of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0011] As described above, advances in game console systems are
being hampered by a number of restrictions, including the maximum
operating temperature of the semiconductor devices, maximum
allowable noise level for a game console, the maximum allowable
surface temperature of the game consol, and the maximum amount of
power that a game console can draw from a standard electrical wall
outlet. The following described embodiments of game console systems
address these restrictions.
[0012] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a game console system 100. The
system 100 is divided into two distinct and remotely located
subsystems that are connected to one another solely by electrical
(wired), radio (wireless) and/or optical fiber communication links.
The first subsystem includes a user interface module 102 configured
to be located at the point of game-play, such as in a game room or
living room. The second subsystem includes a graphics processing
module 104. In some embodiments, the graphics processing module 104
is located in a controlled environment chamber 106.
[0013] The user interface module 102 is configured to electrically
or optically couple to a display 108, such as a television or
computer monitor. In some embodiments, the user interface module
102 includes a controller 110 and a console 112. In some
embodiments, the user interface module 102 resembles a traditional
game console system in that it contains a game console 112
configured to couple to the display 108 and a game controller 110.
The console 112 connects to both the display 108 and the controller
110 via electrical, optical, and/or wireless links 114 and 116.
However, the user interface module 102 differs from a traditional
game console system in that the console 112 contains less
computational hardware, as described below.
[0014] The graphics processing module 104 contains some, if not
all, of the heat-generating computational hardware traditionally
installed in game console systems, such as the transformer, the
graphics processor, the graphics memory, the CPU, the memory, etc.
In some embodiments, the graphics processing module 104 and the
controlled environment chamber 106 are formed as a single device,
while in other embodiments the graphics processing module 104 is
simply housed within the controlled environment chamber 106.
[0015] During use, as shown, the graphics processing module 104 is
disposed at a remote location to the user interface module 102. For
example, the graphics processing module 104 may be located in a
different room or even outside of the building in which the
interface module 102 is located, or even in a separate building. In
this way, during use, the graphics processing module 104 is
thermally and/or acoustically isolated from the user interface
module 102, and, therefore, can generate more heat and noise than
traditionally tolerated, while maintaining a quiet and cool user
environment. Raising the thermal limit by 10 to 30 times raises the
performance of the system about 10 to 30 times.
[0016] In some embodiments, the graphics processing module 104 may
also be coupled to a dedicated power supply circuit. For example,
in some embodiments, the controlled environment chamber 106
includes a higher voltage source, such as an outlet that provides
50 A at 240V. The cost of this amount of power would be about
$1/hour, affordable by a significant portion of the gaming
community. This allows more power to be supplied to the graphics
processor and the associated cooling mechanisms.
[0017] In some embodiments the graphics processing module 104 is
disposed in the controlled environment chamber 106. The controlled
environment chamber 106 may be a separate room or closet devoted to
such purpose, an unenclosed space that is separate from the user
environment, such as a section of another room, or of a garage or
basement, or even a separate area of the room in which the user
interface module 102 is located. Alternatively, the controlled
environment chamber 106 may be an enclosed container disposed
remotely from the user interface module 102, such as in another
room or even outside the house or building in which the user
interface module 102 is located.
[0018] In some embodiments, such an enclosed container may resemble
a small refrigerator. In other embodiments, the controlled
environment chamber 106 is not disposed remote from user interface
module 102, but rather separated by a thermal and/or acoustic
insulator, described below.
[0019] In most embodiments, the controlled environment chamber 106
is located remotely from the user interface module 102, e.g., in a
separate room, a separate section of the same room, a separate
building, etc. In this instance, "remote" refers to being situated
in any location at which the user interface module 102 is thermally
and acoustically insulated, within a reasonable tolerance, from the
heat and noise generated by the controlled environment chamber 106.
The term "remote" is not intended to be limiting, and a person of
ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that many configurations
are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.
[0020] The user interface module 102 is coupled to the graphics
processing module 104 via one or more communication links. The
communication links may include a first bidirectional communication
link 118 between the graphics processing module 104 and the console
112 and/or the controller 110. This first communication link 118
may be any suitable wired or wireless communication link sufficient
to communicate control signals from the controller 110 and/or the
console 112 to the graphics processing module 104, and receive
signals back, such as force feedback signals. The communication
links may include a second unidirectional communication link 120
between the graphics processing module 104 and the console 112,
which, in some embodiments, operates up to that needed for
compressed high-definition video (about 0.6 Gb/s or faster). This
communication link 120 may be any suitable wired or wireless
communication link sufficient to communicate compressed video
signals or frames from the graphics processing module 104 to the
console 112. The communication links must also be able to support
real-time game play (.about.10 ms response time, or approximately
the same as the video frame time) without any noticeable latency or
lag time between controller input and generated video information.
In an alternative embodiment, the link is sufficient to communicate
uncompressed video signals or frames from the graphics processing
module 104 to the console 112.
[0021] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the controlled environment
chamber 106 and graphics processing module 104 shown in FIG. 1. The
controlled environment chamber 106 provides an environment in which
the graphics processing module 104 can generate substantially more
heat and noise, and in some embodiments also draw more power, than
traditional game console systems. The controlled environment
chamber 106 includes a cooling mechanism 202 to cool the
computational hardware and expel heat generated by the graphics
processing module 104 through an exhaust 206. The cooling mechanism
may be any suitable mechanism for maintaining a preferred operating
temperature in the controlled environment chamber 106. In some
embodiments, the cooling mechanism 202 includes at least one fan.
The fan may transfer heated air out of, or cooler exterior air
into, the controlled environment chamber 106. In some embodiments,
the at least one fan creates an air flow significantly larger than
that typically provided in current game system consoles. Also in
some embodiments, the components of the graphics processing module
104 are optimally situated to be cooled by the air flow generated
by the at least one fan. The components may also be configured
and/or oriented to maximize cooling by convection, such as by being
spaced apart from one another and/or by having the components that
generate the most heat being downstream from those that generate
less.
[0022] In some embodiments, the at least one fan circulates
pre-chilled air. The air may be chilled by a refrigeration or air
conditioning cycle using a refrigerant such as sulfur dioxide,
anhydrous ammonia, halomethanes such as R-11, R-12, R-22, and
R-134a (Freon), propane, or any other refrigerant known in the art.
The air may also be cooled by an evaporation cooler (swamp cooler),
an absorptive chiller, or any other known refrigeration or air
conditioning means. In an alternative embodiment, refrigeration is
provided without the use of a fan. In an alternative embodiment,
the air may be cooled by water, either drawn from the tap water
system or circulated in a closed loop system.
[0023] The at least one fan may also introduce air from outside the
controlled environment chamber 106 into the chamber. In embodiments
in which the controlled environment chamber 106 is located within a
home or building, the air may be obtained from outside through, for
example, a duct. In embodiments in which the controlled environment
chamber 106 is located outside of the home or building, the ambient
exterior air may be used.
[0024] In some of the above described embodiments, the heated air
is expelled through the heat exhaust 206 to the ambient
environment, such as by hot air being expelled to the exterior of
the house or building in which the controlled environment chamber
is situated.
[0025] In other embodiments, the cooling mechanism 202 may utilize
a liquid coolant, which may be used in conjunction with a
refrigeration or air conditioning system as described above, or may
directly cool the components without the use of a fan. The liquid
coolant may be circulated in an open loop or closed loop system For
example, the liquid coolant may even be tap water that once heated
is expelled through the heat exhaust 206 to either a waste drain, a
storage tank, to the house's or building's hot water heating
system, to the house's or building's air heating (space heating)
system, or to the house's or building's irrigation system for
external planting. The processing components of module 104 operate
at junction temperatures of about 100.degree. C., meaning that the
energy in the 100.degree. C. liquid coolant is most efficiently
utilized as a heat source for either hot water or space heating.
Once the heat energy has been extracted, water coolant in an open
loop system is available for normal usage, including irrigation.
The cost of water for open loop cooling is well under $1 per hour
(.about.30 gallons/hour for 10 KW with 25.degree. C. ambient),
which can be mostly offset if the water is re-used for hot water or
irrigation.
[0026] In some embodiments, especially useful in warmer climates, a
coolant, such as water, may be circulated through a heat exchanger
underground. The constant underground temperature allows for
predictable and effective cooling even on hot days.
[0027] The controlled environment chamber 106 may also include a
dedicated power supply circuit 204, such as a 240V A/C electrical
outlet. The power supply circuit 204 uses the supplied power 208 to
the power supply circuit 204 to power the graphics processing
module 104.
[0028] The controlled environment chamber 106 may also include a
housing made from a thermal and/or acoustic insulation material
226. This insulation material 226 may be any suitable material that
is capable of reducing heat loss through the housing walls. For
example, the insulation material 226 may be rock wool, slag wool,
fiberglass, plastic fiber, cotton, polyester, hemp fiber, flax
fiber, coco fiber, wool fiber, wood fiber, wood chips, sawdust,
strawdust, polyolefin, cellulose, cork, grain, vermiculite,
perlite, icynene, polyisocyanurate, phenolic (phenol-formaldehyde),
polyurethane, polystyrene, polyisocyanurate, vacuum insulation,
aerogels, or any other thermally insulating material known in the
art. The kind and thickness of the insulation material 226 may be
selected by a person of ordinary skill in the art based on the
location and size of controlled environment chamber 106 and the
kind of cooling mechanism 202.
[0029] The insulation material 226 may be used in conjunction with
or instead of remoteness of the controlled environment chamber 106
from user interface module 102. For example, if the controlled
environment chamber 106 is relatively far from user interface
module 102, such as in a garage or external building, a small
amount of insulation material 226 may be required, whereas if
controlled environment chamber 106 is relatively near user
interface module 102, such as in the same room, a larger amount of
insulation material 226 may be required.
[0030] This insulation material 226 may also be any suitable
material that is capable reducing sound propagation. For example,
the controlled environment chamber 106 may be acoustically isolated
with a sound baffle or with acoustic insulation that contains sound
deadening materials, such as open-celled foam, or any other
material known in the art to reduce or absorb noise. The kind and
thickness of insulation material 226 may be selected by a person of
ordinary skill in the art based on the location and size of
controlled environment chamber 106, the noise produced by cooling
mechanism 202, if any, being used, and the teachings herein. The
acoustic insulation may be used in conjunction with or instead of
remoteness of controlled environment chamber 106 from user
interface module 102, as described above.
[0031] In addition, in some embodiments, controlled environment
chamber 106 may be acoustically isolated with active noise control,
as may be implemented by a person of ordinary skill in the art
based on the teachings herein. Active noise control may be used in
conjunction with or instead of remoteness, a sound baffle, and/or
acoustic insulation.
[0032] In some embodiments, the acoustic insulation or isolation is
such that noise levels at the user interface module 102 location
are less than about 30 dB at 1 meter.
[0033] The graphics processing module 104 includes a plurality of
components, such as at least one central processing unit (CPU) 210,
a memory 212, a data processing module 216, a video processing
module 217, a video compression module 218, a video output port
222, a control signal input (or input/output) port 220, and at
least one bus 224 that connects the aforementioned components.
Different embodiments may include some or all of these
components.
[0034] The CPU 210 may comprise programmable or non-programmable
circuits, such as ASICs or microcontrollers. This circuitry
typically does not include non-volatile memory, but a separate
non-volatile memory device may be used to retain programmed memory
212 functionality, event logs, and/or data, even after a period of
power that is insufficient for continued operation. The video
output port 222 is used to send compressed video data (such as
frames) to the user interface module 102 (FIG. 1). In some
embodiments, the video output port 222 includes an optoelectronic
transmitter configured to transmit optical signals along an optical
fiber to the user interface module 102 (FIG. 1). The control signal
port 220 is configured to receive control signals generated by the
controller 110 (FIG. 1). In some embodiments, the control signal
port 220 is also configured to send signals to the user interface
module 102 (FIG. 1), such as force feedback signals to the
controller 110 (FIG. 1).
[0035] The memory 212 may comprise various procedures including,
for example, an operating system 213, other instructions 214 for
operating the plurality of components, and a cache 215 for
temporarily storing data. The operating system 213 includes
instructions for communicating, processing, accessing, storing, or
searching data. An example of a suitable operating system is an
embedded LINUX system. In some embodiments, the functionality of
the data processing module 216, video processing module 217, and
video compression module 218 are undertaken in the software
instructions 214 or in a combination of software and hardware.
[0036] The data processing module 216, video processing module 217,
and video compression module 218 handle various processes for
running the gaming system. The data processing module 216 processes
data, such as calculations for game play, etc. For example, the
data processing module 216 maintains and updates the positions of
all objects in a 3D space. This includes using information received
from the controller device 110 (and force feedback output), physics
processing of the objects in the space, the AI (artificial
intelligence) processing of computer-controlled entities, and the
information from other human-controlled entities (either on-line or
connected locally).
[0037] The video processing module 217 processes game graphics and
may include graphics pipelining procedures, etc. For example, the
video processing module 217 processes accepts/rejects objects,
decomposes 3D objects into surface polygons/vertices, transforms
polygons/vertices according to the viewing angle/position,
accepts/rejects polygons/vertices, clips polygons/vertices
according to the viewing frustum, undertkes
lighting/shading/illumination calculations for polygons/vertices,
undertakes perspective transformation of polygons/vertices, renders
polygons into 2D pixels, maps textures onto 2D pixels, and merges
pixels into 2D viewing frame (including blending of sub-pixels and
Z-compare for hidden surface removal). In other words, in some
embodiments, the video processing module 217 generates game objects
in a three-dimensional (3D) graphical space and transforms them
into two dimensional (2D) video frames.
[0038] The video compression module 218 is used to compress the 2D
video frames into compressed video frames for transmission to the
user interface module 102. In other words, video compression module
218 sends the next finished 2D frame to the display device when the
device is ready (this is a fixed rate of approximately one frame
every 10 ms or so). The 2D image compression may also be undertaken
by the video compression module 218. Suitable compression schemes
include lossless and lossy methods including, but not limited to,
run-length encoding, variable-length encoding, entropy coding,
motion prediction of pixel blocks, interpolation of pixels or pixel
blocks between frames, transformation of pixel intensity into the
spatial frequency domain, and quantization of pixel and spatial
frequency values. The compression/decompression scheme chosen may
utilize methods that limit latency, so that real-time control is
not impacted.
[0039] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the console 112 shown in FIG.
1. The console 112 includes a plurality of components, such as a
power supply 301, at least one central processing unit (CPU) 302, a
memory 312, a video decompression module 326, a video output port
304, a video input port 306, an optional DVD drive and/or internet
connection 308 for loading a game, a control signal output (or
input/output) port 310, a controller port 311, a network connection
port 328, and at least one bus 314 that connects the aforementioned
components. Different embodiments may include some or all of these
components. The memory may include a hard disc drive. In some
embodiments, the DVD drive and/or hard drive may be located in a
device remote from the console 112.
[0040] The CPU 302 may comprise programmable or non-programmable
circuits, such as ASICs or microcontrollers. This circuitry
typically does not include non-volatile memory, but a separate
non-volatile memory device may be used to retain programmed memory
312 functionality, event logs, and/or data, even after a period of
power that is insufficient for continued operation. The video
output port 304 is used to send video to the display 108 (FIG. 1)
at about 6.4 Gb/s or faster. The video input port 306 receives
compressed video signals from the video output port 222 in 104
(FIGS. 1 and 2). The control signal port 310 is configured to
transmit control signals generated by the controller 110 (FIG. 1)
to the graphics processing module 104 (FIGS. 1 and 2). In some
embodiments, the control signal port 310 is also configured to
receive signals from the graphics processing module 104 (FIGS. 1
and 2), such as force feedback signals or audio signals for the
controller 110 (FIG. 1). The control signal port 310 is also used
to load the memory in the graphics processing module 104 (FIG. 1)
with the game from the DVD drive or the internet at about 50 Mb/s
or faster. The controller port 311 is used to communicate with the
controller 110 (FIG. 1) at about 1 Mb/s or faster. The optional
network communication port 328 is used to communicate with an
external network, such as the Internet.
[0041] The memory 312 may include various procedures including, for
example, an operating system 316, instructions 322, and a cache 324
for temporarily storing data. In some embodiments, the cache forms
part of the CPU. The operating system 316 includes instructions for
communicating, processing, accessing, storing, or searching data.
An example of a suitable operating system is an embedded LINUX
system. The instructions 322 control the console.
[0042] The video decompression module 326 is used to decompress the
video received from the graphics processing module 104. In some
embodiments, the video decompression process is handled by
dedicated hardware using dedicated signal paths. In other
embodiments, the decompression module 326 is embodied in software
and not hardware, while in yet other embodiments, the decompression
module 326 are embodied in a combination of hardware and/or
software.
[0043] FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a method of game-play using the
embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3. According to an exemplary
embodiment, a user inputs game software through, for example, the
DVD drive, hard drive, or connection to the internet at step S1.
The game data is transmitted to the graphics processing module 104
(FIG. 1) by the user interface module 102 (FIG. 1) at step S3. The
game data are received by the graphics processing module 104 (FIG.
1) at step S4. The game data are then processed by the data
processing module 216 (FIG. 2) and the video processing module 217
(FIG. 2) at step S5. This may include graphics pipelining to
generate 2D video frames from objects in a 3D graphics space.
[0044] The video frames are then compressed by the video
compression module 218 (FIG. 2) using any suitable data or video
compression schemes at step S6. The compressed video frames are
then transmitted from the graphics processing module 104 (FIG. 1)
to the console 112 (FIG. 1) at step S7. The video frames are
received by the graphics processing module 104 at step S8, and the
decompression module 322 (FIG. 3) decompress the video frames at
step S9. The decompressed video frames may or may not be converted
to analog and then sent to the display 108 (FIG. 1) at step S10.
The display then receives the startup screen video and/or graphics
and displays them to the user at step S12.
[0045] During game play the user then selects or inputs control
signals via the controller 110 (FIG. 1). These control signals are
then transmitted to the console at step S2, which receives them, at
step S3, and transmits them to the control signal port 220 (FIG. 2)
of the graphics processing module 104 (FIG. 1) at step S3.
Alternatively, the controller may transmit the control signals
directly to the graphics processing module 104 (FIG. 1).
[0046] The control signals are received by the graphics processing
module 104, at step S4, and the control signals processed at step
S5. This may include generating new video scenes using graphics
pipelining, or the like. The data and/or graphics (including video)
are then compressed by the compression module 216 (FIG. 2) using
any suitable data or video compression schemes at step S6. The
compressed data and/or graphics are then transmitted from the
graphics processing module 104 (FIG. 1) to the console 112 (FIG. 1)
at step S7. The data and/or graphics are received by the graphics
processing module 104 at step S8, and the decompression module 322
(FIG. 3) decompress the graphics and/or data receives at step S9.
The decompressed graphics may or may not be converted to analog and
then sent to the display 108 (FIG. 1) at step S10. The display then
receives the new video scenes and displays them to the user at step
S12.
[0047] At the same time, any control signals are sent back to the
console or controller, at step S7, such as force feed back to the
controller (such as at about 1 Mb/s or faster). The controller or
console then receives the control signals and evokes them at step
S111, such as by vibrating the controller for force feedback.
[0048] In an alternative embodiment, the console 112 supports two
modes of operating. The first mode is as described above, where the
video is generated in the graphics processing module. In the second
mode, the video is generated in the console without the assistance
of the graphics processing module. In the second mode, the quality
of the graphics may be degraded because of the reduced computation
capability of the console.
[0049] The above described embodiments operate in real-time with
little or no latency, i.e., game-play is fluid and does not have
any observable latency between inputting a control signal and being
presented with an updated game graphic or video. Safety concerns
are addressed as the heat and noise generation is remotely located
from the point of game-play. In addition, more powerful processors,
cooling mechanisms, etc. may be employed as a higher power
circuitry is provided at the graphics processing module that is
remote from the user.
[0050] While the foregoing description and drawings represent the
preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be
understood that various additions, modifications and substitutions
may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of
the present invention as defined in the accompanying claims. In
particular, it will be clear to those skilled in the art that the
present invention may be embodied in other specific forms,
structures, arrangements, proportions, and with other elements,
materials, and components, without departing from the spirit or
essential characteristics thereof. For example, it will be
appreciated that graphics processing module 104 (FIG. 1) need not
be limited to processing graphics only. Also, any hardware and/or
software used in the game system may be housed in the controlled
environment chamber 106 (FIG. 1) instead of in the console 112. For
example, only the controller 110 (FIG. 1) and the display 108 (FIG.
1) need be located at the point of game-play. Further, while a game
system has been disclosed for exemplary purposes, it will be
appreciated that the present invention can be used for any
computational system, particularly those with heat-producing
elements. The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore to be
considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the
scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims, and
not limited to the foregoing description.
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